La Ciotat

View of La Ciotat

Rue Badelon towards Cinema Lumière

La Ciotat is in Bouches-du-Rhône.

Understand

La Ciotat is halfway between Marseille and Toulon. A former shipbuilding centre, now it is a nice resort. It is often associated with Lumière Brothers and their first films.

• 1 Office de Tourisme (Tourist Office), Quai Ganteaume (near the Old Harbour), ☏ +33 4 42 08 61 32, tourismeciotat@wanadoo.fr. Summer: M-Sa 09:00-20:00, Su and holidays 10:00-13:00; winter M-Sa 09:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00. (updated May 2015)

Get in

By train

• 2 Train station (out of town about 4.5 km). This station was shot in one of the first films made: L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat ("The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station"), made by Lumière Brothers in 1895. There is a bus from the station into the town. (updated May 2015)

By bus

• 3 Gare routière (bus station). Right at the centre of the town, near the Tourist Office. (updated May 2015)

See

Eden Theatre

Cinema Lumière

• 1 Vieux Port (Old Harbour). (updated May 2015)
• 2 Vieille Ville (Old town). There are some notable buildings are rue Adolph Abeille and the rue des Poilus. (updated May 2015)
• 3 Church of Notre Dame de l'Assomption (right at the Vieux Port). Built in the 17th century. (updated May 2015)
• 4 Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus, Boulevard Anatole France. Hosts temporary exhibitions. (updated May 2015)
• 5 Eden Théâtre, Boulevard Georges Clémenceau, ☏ +33 4 42 83 89 05. Opened 16 June 1889, perhaps the oldest working cinema theatre in the world. (updated May 2015)
• 6 Musée Ciotaden, 1, quai Ganteaume, ☏ +33 4 42 71 40 99, contact@muséeciotaden.org. 1 Jul-31 Aug: W-M 16:00-19:00; 1 Sep-30 Jun: W-M 15:00-18:00. Adults €3.5, accompanied children free up to 12 years. (updated May 2015)
• 7 Covered Market, place Evariste-Gras. A restored building of a former market, now hosts a Cinema Frères Lumière (Lumière Brothers cinema). There is also a nice square and a small street on its NW side. (updated Jul 2015)

Do

A calanque at the South of Parc du Mugel

• 1 Parc du Mugel (at the W coast of calanque Mugel), ☏ +33 4 42 08 61 32, b.girardin@mairie-laciotat.fr. 1 Apr- 30 Sep: 08:00 to 20:00; 1 Oct-31 Mar: 09:00-18:00. It is a municipal park and botanical garden. The park is listed among the Notable Gardens of France. There are also some nice trails leading to calanques (characteristic coves) — well worth exploring. free. (updated May 2015)
• 2 L'Ile Verte (Green Island). Between April and October there is a ferry service to the island. (updated May 2015)

Eat

• 1 Le Napoleon, 31, Quai Francois Mitterrand (Vieux Port), ☏ +33 4 42 82 37 03. simple, but reasonably good food, presumably Corsican. (updated Jul 2015)
• 2 La Tete d'Ail, 13, Boulevard Anatole France, ☏ +33 4 42 36 99 20. "Head of garlic" -- nice food with a bit of creativity. (updated Jul 2015)

Connect

As of July 2023, La Ciotat and it approach roads have 5G from all French carriers.

Go next

• Cassis
• Bandol